Ask Lisa: Untangling Family Life

Latest Episodes:

122: How Much Structure Should Kids Have in the Summer? Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

While summer is a great time to be more laid back, a parent writes in asking whether kids should really have less structure in the summer. Dr. Lisa and Reena talk through key questions parents face once the school year ends: What's a reasonable bedtime - and how much sleep should kids be getting? What's fair to expect in terms of chores? And how much time should kids spend with digital devices, especially in light of the new, worrisome report from the U.S. Surgeon General? Their conversation offers both detailed answers and a broad perspective on the value of linking privileges and responsibilities.

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Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens is the essential podcast for parents seeking expert guidance, tested strategies, and psychological insights on raising kids, especially tweens and teens. Join renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and former journalist and mom of two Reena Ninan as they explore real-life parenting challenges. Looking to learn more about how to boost kids’ resilience, build their confidence, or support their emotional well-being? Dr. Lisa and Reena have got you covered! Together they address listener questions about stress, anxiety, social media concerns, school pressures, and challenges in peer relationships. Each episode provides practical advice and science-backed solutions to help parents raise resilient, confident, and emotionally healthy kids. Tune in every week for the latest topics in parenting, child psychology, and family wellness. Get answers to your most pressing parenting questions. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

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121: Encore: Should I Bribe My Kid? May 30, 2023

Show notes

It can be hard to get your kids to be self-starters. How do we motivate kids to do the things they don't want to do? Dr. Lisa explains that there are times in parenting when offering encouragement and reminders just doesn't work. So can bribing your kids be a winning strategy for things like getting better grades? Dr. Lisa and Reena discuss motivation and rewards. What really works to get kids motivated? This is an encore episode that originally ran at the beginning of 2022 during the pandemic.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

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120: My Teen Is Into Sports Betting. Help! May 23, 2023

Show notes

With online betting now legal in most states, sports coverage is increasingly saturated with commentary focussed on betting and ads for gambling apps. Teens are noticing - and some of them are getting in on the action. It's increasingly easy and common for teens to bet on sports and, at times, to lose large sums of money. Dr. Lisa and Reena address how teens find ways to place bets, why they want to, and what parents and caregivers need to know if they have a teen who might be interested in sports betting. Dr. Lisa lays out the psychological science explaining why gambling can be addictive and offers guidance on how to talk with teens about the potential dangers of sports betting.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

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Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

119: How Do I Get My Son to Stop Picking on His Little Sister? May 16, 2023

Show notes

Why are kids mean to their siblings? Dr. Lisa unpacks the dynamics behind sibling conflict and takes us inside the mind of older siblings. The conversation addresses why the onset of puberty makes it hard for kids to control their emotions, gendered dynamics, and how to steer clear of shame when one child hurts another. Dr. Lisa offers guidance on what parents can do - both in the moment and after the fact - to prevent lasting harm.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

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Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

118: My Daughter Is Cutting Herself. What Should I Do? May 09, 2023

Show notes

Why do young people engage in self-harm? A mother writes in asking for advice on how to respond when her daughter cuts herself. Dr. Lisa unpacks why adolescents sometimes hurt themselves to manage distress and Reena asks about the connection between self-harm and suicide. Using research as a guide, Dr. Lisa explains self-harm, how adults can respond helpfully, and what interventions to consider.

Dr. Lisa Resource Recommendation:

The DBT Skills Workbook for Teen Self-Harm: Practical Tools to Help You Manage Emotions and Overcome Self-Harming Behaviors

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AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

117: My College-Bound Kid Is "Soiling the Nest." Help! May 02, 2023

Show notes

What’s the best way for parents to respond when their high school senior wants to spend every waking minute with friends? A mom writes in asking if it's okay to require her teen to spend time with the family before heading off to college. Dr. Lisa walks us through the complex psychological dynamics unfolding for high school seniors and their parents. Teens are often working to consolidate a new identity and can be remote and prickly around the house. Parents often feel annoyed with their college-bound kid and, simultaneously, like they aren't ready to let go. Do teens continue to hold their folks at arms length? What about the example being set for younger siblings? Dr. Lisa answers these questions and more.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

________________

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

116: Should I Kick My Kid Off TikTok? Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

When should parents limit - or even forbid - the use of TikTok? Dr. Lisa and Reena take a deep dive into the upsides and downsides of social media and how the norms kids encounter in online environments can influence real-world behavior. The conversation sheds light on the algorithms that drive social media, what parents need to be on the lookout for, when it's time to worry, and what parents should do.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

________________

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

115: How Do I Parent a Young Adult (and Deal with my Own Parents)? Guest: Laurence Steinberg, PhD Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Lisa and Reena welcome special guest Dr. Laurence Steinberg, Professor of Psychology at Temple University, to celebrate the publication of his latest book You And Your Adult Child: How To Grow Together In Challenging Times. Dr. Steinberg unpacks key research and decades of experience to answer questions from Ask Lisa listeners: How long should you financially support your kids? What if your parents aren’t the grandparents you hoped they'd be? When should you speak out about worrisome choices an adult child is making? Dr. Steinberg addresses how to navigate shifting family dynamics and the importance of supporting autonomy in young adults - even as they continue to need parental love and guidance.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

________________

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

114: Should My Kid Take a Gap Year? Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Does it always make sense for students to enroll in college immediately after high school? Dr. Lisa and Reena discuss when and why parents might want to think seriously about having a teen take a gap year. They weigh the pros and cons of "stepping off the conveyor belt" to college and talk about how gap years are best spent. Reena shares her concern that allowing a gap year makes college less likely. Dr. Lisa explains how having an extra year can go a long way toward helping students make the most of the college opportunity.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

________________

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

113: How Do I Help My Kid Deal with Unfairness? Apr 04, 2023

Show notes

From not getting into a desired college to not making a team - how do we help kids process unfairness? A dad writes in asking for help when his high school junior loses the National Honors Society presidency to a classmate known for online posts about drinking. Dr. Lisa and Reena discuss how to help kids come to terms with unfairness and privilege as they play out in school, sports, and leadership positions. Dr. Lisa reminds parents of the importance of helping kids develop the capacity to tolerate - and grow from - emotional discomfort.

AVAILABLE NOW:

The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour. Available at www.DrLisaDamour.comand everywhere books are sold.

________________

Checkout Dr. Lisa’s website for more resources:

https://www.drlisadamour.com/

Ask Lisa is produced by:

Www.GoodTroubleProductions.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices